Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 249 – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7- Source Of All Comfort – Growing As Disciples
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Troubles In Life
There is no doubt that I will certainly have those, that will be my experience. What will you have? What will be your experience? I will have troubles in life. To think otherwise would be foolish. It would be denying reality. Why do you think this is true? This is a sin broken world. This world does not function according to your original design. You suffered in this life, so will I. That is true. I will experience pain and suffering and troubles because of ways that I have thought or spoken or acted. Yes, some pain and suffering and trouble, I will bring on myself. Yet, I will also experience pain and suffering and troubles that come my way, as part of life, that are no fault of my own. That is also true. As bad as your troubles have been, have you received any benefit from them? Has any good been brought forth in your life because of the troubles you have gone through. I will tell you one thing for certain. What’s that? Pain and suffering and troubles are an attention getter. Nothing has more quickly drawn me back to you than being in the midst of pain and suffering and troubles. Nothing has caused me to rely more passionately and persistently on you than being in great need. How do you feel about that outcome? I am not a big fan of pain and suffering and troubles; I don’t welcome any of it into my life. I would rather avoid it all together. That’s honest. But I also wouldn’t trade a life free of pain and suffering and troubles for a life of not coming to know you. If the cost of drawing near to you, living in a more intimate relationship with you, and relying more fully on you, is going through pain and suffering and trouble in life, then I would gladly pay it. The truth is I have probably needed troubles in life to draw me back to you. So, in some strange way, I am thankful for them. You don’t need to give thanks and praise to me for pain and suffering and troubles. No, I will give thanks and praise to you for your mercy and compassion as I go through them. You have never left me alone when I have needed you the most. You have always drawn near to me, as I have drawn near to you. You have always been with me to help me. You have always comforted me with your love. For that I will give you all my thanks and praise. That is very good. One more thing. What’s that? Help me also to comfort others with all the comfort and love I have received from you. That, I will do. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, I know I am certain to go through troubles in life. I also know you are the God of all comfort. I give you my thanks and praise for your mercy and comfort. I will rely on you in my troubles. Use me to comfort others with the comfort I have received from you. Amen
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